Railway-switch and means for operating same.



- No. 663,907. Patented Dec. 18, I900.

J. W. KOCH.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAME.

{Application filed May 31, 1900.|

2 Sheds-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

l'npanfoz Patented Dec. l8, I900.

J. W. KOCH. RMLWAY SWITCH AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAME.

(Application filed May 31. mom

2 $heets-8heet 2.

(No Model.)

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51 numdoz tries.

JAMES W. KOCH, OF REYNOLDS, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAlLWAY-SWI TCH AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAME.

EPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,907, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed May 31,1900. Serial 140.18,?)97- (No model.

To a, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES W. KOCH, a resident of Reynolds, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switches and Means'for Operating the Same; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. I

This invention I relates to the class of switches which are set and reset when desired by devices on an engine, car, or train.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of track, a switch, and operating devices. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the device on the engine or car for operating the switch lever, also switch lever and bracket. Fig. et is a partial perspective of the plungers, wedge-plate, and switch-rod. Fig.

5 is a side view, on a larger scale, of the cas ing, plungers, and operating-levers. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a partial vertical section showing the casing, switch-rod,and connected parts. Fig. 8 is a side View of a standaidtop. Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of Fig. 1, showing one of the switch-rails and the operating devices; and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View showing an arrangement of operating devices on several vehicles in a train.

In the drawings, -1 1 are the rails of a main line of track, and 2 2 the rails of a right branch I track, 3 4 being switch points or rails, 4 normally lying against rail 1 to maintain the main track closed and the other, 3, being separated from rail 1 to hold the branch open. The switchrails are connected by a cross-bar 5, so as to be moved together by switch-rod 6, which passes under one of the rails and is connected to the under side of bar 5 at 5. Rod 6 also extends through a strong firmlysupported box or casing 7, having a removable cover 8. Within the casing, fixed to the rod against rotary or longitudinal movement on the rod, is a block or plate 9, the ends of which are beveled, as in Fig. 6, or slightly curved, as in Fig. 4, for the purpose described hereinafter. The casing has at one end a hole 10 and at the other end a hole 10' for two oppositely-beveled plungers 11 12, which are not in line with each other, but are in lines separated by the thickness of plate 9, as most clearly shown in Fig. 6. The beveled end of one of the plungers is in line with plate 9 and bears against a beveled end thereof, while the other plunger is at one side and slightly overlaps the plate. The space within the casing must be at least as wide as the combined thicknesses of plate 9 and plungers 11 12 to give sufficient play to plate 9. Preferably holes l0 10 extend through the ends of the casing, close up to the opposite sides thereof, so that the outer sides of the plunger-s slide on and are firmly hacked or supported by the slideways formed by the inner sides of the casing. This particular mode of supporting the plungers at the rear is best; but I do not limit myself thereto.

13 let are upright or nearly upright levers pivoted at 15 to fixed pivots and pivoted at 16 to the plungers. Pivoted to their upper ends is a connecting-rod 17 and also the rods '18 19,18 extending backward along the main line,and 19 forward along the branch to switchsetting and switchresetiing levers 20 21, respectively.

22 represents standards and guides for the rods, and they are preferably provided with rollers 23 on pins 24 to reduce friction when the rods are reciprocated.

25 represents sheet-metal caps on the tops of the standards and extending down so as to cover and hold in the pins.

In order to give strength, it is preferred to connect the two standards near casing 7 by rods 26, secured to the standards by nuts 27, Figs. 2 and 9. These rods are not always essential and are not shown in Fig. l.

7 20 is the switch-setting lever at a distance in advance of a switch, pivoted at 28 to a bracket and passing through slot 29 in rod 32 is a bracket or standard on the top of without wedge 39) is sufiicient to enable which lever 20 bears and slides during part of its movement, thereby stead ying the lever. is a plate bolted to the top of bracket 32, forming a guide or steadying device for the lever while being moved.

36 represents weights which may be used, depending from or otherwise suitably supported by levers 20 21, to increase the quick-' ness with which the lever fallsinto one notch or the other when the respective lever is moved on its pivot. These weights may in some cases be quite heavy, and thus tend to prevent interference with the switch by boys, &c., but should allow the lever to move when struck by lever 39. The weights are not always necessary, particularly when the part of the lever on the track side of the pivot 28 is itself heavy.

The resetting-lever 21 is similarly mounted to lever 20, but has its pivot 28 on the opposite side of the rod operated thereby, so as to move oppositely. The lever20 normally rests in the first notch and the resetting-lever in the last notch of their brackets. The distance apart of the notches 31 33 in the first bracket and the corresponding notches in the second bracket depends on the length of the switch-levers between their pivots and notched brackets.

Alongside the brackets above described are rigid stops 37 of the same height as the brackets and along the track side and corresponddescribe the cooperating devices on an ening in position to the fiat intermediate parts of the tops of the brackets 32.

The track part of the switchoperating mechanism having been described, I will now gine, car, or train.

At suitable points on each vehicle, extending beyond the wheels,is a strong metal frame 38, having a plurality of vertical wings or platesbetween which or between one pair of which is a lever 39, pivoted at 40. The lower end of lever 39 is beveled or slightly curved on each edge at 41 42. Lever 39 is normally thrown to one side, so that its lower 7 end will clear the setting and resetting le- 9 locked in said position; but it is movably held against a pin placed behind the lever by a weight 43, preferably adjustable on the upper part of the lever. Other means than the pin may be used to hold the le'verinset position,provided such means leave the lever free to swing forward. To increase resistance to movement of the lever, a wedge 39 may be forced in beside it when it is set.

4 1- is a rod for adjusting lever 39 from a rear part of the engine.

In operation when the vehicle is moving forward lever 39 is set at an inclination and pointing forward. The bevel 41 strikes the end of lever 20, and the weight 43 (with or lever 39 to move the switch-setting lever 20 to or nearly to the upper position. (Indicated 7c in Fig. 8.) At this instant bevel 41 strikes the stop 37, which reverses the inclination of lever 39, raising its lower end above the plane of the inner end of following switch-levers, after which it must be again set before it will operate another switch-lever. Rubber blocks '38 may be'provided to cushion lever 39 when thrown from one side to the other. At the same instant the rigid downward extension 45 on the engine or car strikes the lever 20, carrying it along until it falls into the second notch. This movement of lever 20 moves lever- 21 reversely to lever :20 and also plunger-s 11 12, one of which, 12, by its wedge action against plate 9 operates the switch, at the same time moving plate 9 and the other plunger into cooperative relation for resetting the switch. After the lever 39 on the engine or train has passed lever 20 lever 39 maybe set by varying its inclination so as to carry its lower end into the plane of resetting-lever 21, so as to operate said lever, provided lever 21 is more than the length of the engine or train beyond the switch, and

if not a similar lever must be provided at the rear of the train, car, or engine, which must be set after passing lever 20.

In case there are also left branches switchlevers and cooperating parts, as above described, will be placed on the opposite side of ICC the track, for which the engine or car must have an operating-lever, like 39, on its other side. In practice I provide such devices at the four corners of each engine or car, or on the engine and on the lastcar of a train.

The engine, 850., can run either way, (when the switch-setting lever and the resetting-lever become, respectively, switch resetting and setting levers,) and all the operator. has to do is to adjust the lever or levers 39. Evidently no the automaticdevices for setting the switchrails are not entirely dependent on the use of the resettingdevices.

I claim 1. The combination with track-rails and switch-rails, of a pivoted switch-setting lever adapted to be moved by suitable means on a car, adjacent to the track and at some distance in advance of the switch-rails, a bracket between one end of said lever and the pivot, the bracket having two separated notches, in the first of which said lever normally rests and in the other of which the lever rests after being moved, a plunger with a beveled end, means for guiding the plunger, suitable levers between the plunger and the pivoted switchsetting lever for advancing the plunger, a rod extending from the switch-rails, a plate fixed to said rod and having a beveled end in line With the beveled end of the plunger, whereby 13o advancing the plunger pushes said plate sidewise and throws the switch-rails.

2. The combination with track -rails and switch-rails, of a pivoted switch-setting lever adapted to be moved by suitable means on a car, adjacent to the track and at some distance in advance of the switch-rails, a bracket between one end of said lever and the pivot, the bracket having two separated notches, in the first of which said lever normally rests and in the other of which the lever rests after being moved, a heavy weight supported from the switch-setting lever between its pivot and its end nearest the track, a plunger with a beveled end, means for guiding the plunger, suitable levers between the plunger and the pivoted switch-setting lever for advancing the plunger, a rod extending from the switchrails, a plate fixed to said rod and having a beveled end in line with the beveled end of the plunger, whereby advancing the plunger pushes said plate sidewise and throws the switch-rails.

3. The combination with track-rails and switch-rails, of a pivoted switch-setting lever adapted to be moved by suitablemeans on a car, adjacent to the track and at some distance in advance of the switch-rails,a bracket between one end of said lever and the pivot, the bracket having two separated notches, in the first of which said lever normally rests and in the other of which the lever rests after being moved, a plunger with a beveled end, means forguiding the plunger, suitablelevers between the plunger and the pivoted switchsetting lever for advancing the plunger, a rod extending from the switch-rails, a plate fixed to said rod and having a beveled end in line with the beveled end of the plunger, whereby advancing the plunger pushes said plate sidewise and throws the switch-rails, and means adapted to be moved by devices on a car for resetting the switch-rails.

4. The combination with track-rails and switch-rails, of a pivoted switch-setting lever adapted to bennoved by suitable means on a car, adjacent to the track and at some distance in advance of the switch-rails, a bracket between one end of said lever and the pivot, the bracket having two separated notches, in the first of which said lever normally rests and in the other of which the lever rests after being moved, a plunger with a beveled end, means for guiding the plunger, suit-able levers between the plunger and the pivoted switchsetting lever for advancing the plunger, a rod extending from the switch-rails, a plate fixed to said rod and having a beveled end in line with the beveled end of the plunger, whereby advancing the plunger pushes said plate side-wise and throws the switch-rails, a pivoted switclrresetting lever beyond the switch, a second guided plunger with a beveled end, Suitable levers between the resetting-lever and the second plunger for moving the latter, the plate fixed to the rod extending from the switch rails having a second beveled end which cooperates with the second plunger to return the switch-rails back to their normal position.

5. The combination with switch-rails, a rod I extending therefrom, a plate having beveled ends fixed to the rod, a casing through which the rod passes, a plate with beveled ends fixed to the rod within said casing, plungers each with a beveled end passing through separate openings in said casing, one plunger being in line with the plate with beveled ends while the other plunger is at one side thereof for alternately moving the plate and the switchrails in opposite directions.

6. The combination with switch-rails, of a rod extending therefrom, a casing through which the rod passes, a plate thinner than the casing, and having beveled ends fixed to the rod within the casing, the casing having at one end an opening close to one side of the casing and at the opposite end an opening close to the opposite side of the casing, plungers each with a beveled end passing through said holes and cooperating respectively with opposite ends of the plate having beveled ends, the sides of the casing forming rigid slideways at the backs of the plungers, and means for operating the plungers.

7. The combination with switch-rails, of a switch setting lever, a pivot therefor, a bracket with two notches separated by a distance depending on the distance from the pivot to said bracket, rod 18, lever 13, plunger 11 with beveled end, plate 9 with beveled ends, rod 6, switch-rails, means for connecting the switch-rails and rod 6, a switch-resetting lever 21, a pivot therefor located so as to move oppositely to lever 20, a bracket with two notches adapted to the length of the resetting-lever, plunger 12, lever 14, and rod 19.

8. The com bi nation of switch-rails,a switchrod, a plate 9 with beveled ends, plungers 11, 12, levers 13, 14 to which the plungers are con nected, rods 18, 19 connected with levers 13, 14, and the intermediate connecting-rod 1'7.

9. The combination of switch-rod 6, plate 9 having beveled ends thereon, oppositelymoving beveled plungers cooperating with plate 9 to reciprocate rod 6, a casing 7 the sides of which form rigid supports and slideways for the plungers, and means for moving the plungers.

10. The combination of brackets 32, notches 31, 33 adapted to receive a swinging switchlever, a flat intermediate part in the top of said bracket, and a plate secured to the top and extending over the notches and intermediate part leaving a space over the latter sufficient to allow passage of the switch-lever.

11. The combination of brackets 32, notches 31, 33 adapted to receive a swinging switchlever, a flat intermediate part in the top of said bracket, and the rigid stop 37 beside the intermediate part of the bracket.

12. The combination of a switch-lever, a rod moved thereby, standards 22 having a bearing for the rod, a roller 23 in the bearing, a pin 24 for the roller, and a cap 25 on the upper end of the standard and extending below pin 24.

13. A device carried by a car or engine for ting levers, the pivoted lever being movable to lower its bottom end into position to strike the switch setting or resetting lever, means for supporting the pivoted lever when thus lowered with its bottom end pointing forward,

' said means leaving the lever free to swing to the reverse position when the switch-lever is operated.

14:. A device carried by a car or engine for operating a switch setting or resetting lever and parts connecting such lever to the switchrails, consisting of a pivoted leversuppori ed by the car, said lever normally being inclined so as to raise the bottom of the lever high enough to clear the switch setting and resetting levers, the pivoted lever being movable to lower its bottom end into position to strike the switch setting or resetting lever, means for supporting the pivoted lever when thus lowered with its bottom end pointing forward, said means leaving the lever free to swing to the reverse position when the switch-lever is operated, and a weight firmly holding the lever in set position until it strikes a switch setting or resetting lever, said weight giving suflicient resistance to movement of the pivoted lever to cause it to move a switch setting or resetting lever.

15. A device carried bya car or engine for operating a switch setting or resetting lever and parts connecting such lever to the switchrails, consisting of a pivoted lever supported by the car, said lever normally being inclined so as to raise the bottom of the lever high enough to clear the switch setting and resetting levers, the pivoted lever being movable to lower its bottom end into position to strike the switch setting or resetting lever, means for supporting the pivoted lever when thus 45.

lowered with its bottom end pointing forward, said means leaving the lever free to swing to the reverse position when the switch-leveris operated, and a weight firmly holding the lever in set position until it strikes a switch setting or resetting lever, said weight giving sufficient resistance to movement of the pivoted lever to cause it to move a switch setting or resetting lever a short distance, and a fixed block on the car behind the bottom of the pivoted lever in position to operate on a switch setting or resetting lever after operation of the pivoted lever thereon.

16. The combination with a car or engine of adjustable switch-lever-operating devices near the four corners thereof, each device consisting of a pivoted lever supported by the car, said lever when set "for operation being inclined with its lower end pointing forward and into the plane of the switch-lever to be operated, and its upper end backward, a weight carried by the upper end of the lever, and means holding the leverin operative position but leaving it free to swing in a vertical plane parallel with the longitudinal axis 79 JAMES W. KOCH.

Witnesses:

- A. H. GLASSNIN,

L. S. FoLLwEsLER, 

